they had found.
Cynthia mouthed “later.” Travis smiled. Maybe feeling lonely was going to be a thing of the past…for both of them.
She adjusted the hibiscus in her hair and looked up at Henry. “Travis thinks I’m the best thing he’s ever come across.”
“You are.” Henry sounded sincere, but he always said the right words. His reputation as a playboy and heart-breaker was well-earned. He oozed charm, but Cynthia was immune. He was a good friend, the closest thing she had to a big brother. She’d met him when she was a debutante and they had become fast friends despite the difference in their ages. Dating him wasn’t an option. They’d tried once five years ago right after she’d turned twenty-one. It felt weird, uncomfortable, wrong. They were destined to be nothing more than friends. Both were happy with that. “But before you settle on becoming Mrs. Travis Drummond, there’s someone else I want you to meet first.”
“Who?”
“Cade Waters.”
“Waters.” The name didn’t sound familiar. She knew most of the families of the rich and the eligible. “Should I know him?”
“His full name is Cade Armstrong Waters.”
She stopped walking. “Armstrong International?”
Henry nodded. “He’s one of the nephews.”
Nephew, cousin, distant relative. It didn’t matter. The Armstrongs were so wealthy they made Travis Drummond’s net worth seem like milk money. But even better was the family itself, something Travis couldn’t give her.
The Armstrongs were a large, extended family of movers and shakers who made millions and headlines. And royalty since Christina Armstrong had married His Serene Highness Prince Richard De Thierry of San Montico. A princess for a cousin-in-law. Now that would make family get-togethers interesting. Oh, family get-togethers…
Cynthia dreamed about being part of a big, loving family. She hated not having any siblings. In theory, she was part of a family. Reality, however, was another thing.
“Why haven’t I heard about Cade Armstrong?” she asked.
“Cade Armstrong Waters,” Henry corrected. “He keeps a low profile. Avoids the press. Some call him the black sheep of the family, but you won’t meet a more perfect man.”
“I thought you were the only perfect man?”
“If only.” Henry laughed and waved to a mutual friend. “Cade’s sister got married on Valentine’s Day. You may have heard of her. Kelsey Armstrong Waters Addison.”
“Addison? As in Addison Resorts and…” Cynthia grabbed Henry’s shoulder. “She’s the wedding consultant to the stars.”
His eyes gleamed with amusement. “Could come in handy if something developed between you and her brother?”
If something developed… The Armstrongs probably had a big Christmas gathering with a huge tree covered with lights and ornaments and a formal sit-down dinner with all the family in attendance. She could almost smell the scents of pine, vanilla and cinnamon. Almost hear the sounds of conversations, laughter and singing. A warm glow flowed through her. With Cade and the Armstrongs, she would never have to spend Christmas alone while her parents took yet another “second” honeymoon.
Cynthia’s heart pounded. She wanted to surround herself with love, cocoon herself in a family. The Armstrongs were a ready-made one with lots of aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews and cousins. They were also rich. She would never have to worry about being poor again. This was everything she’d ever wanted and it sounded too good to be true. “Does Cade have any ex-wives, clinging ex-girlfriends or children I should know about?”
“None of the above.”
Excited, she glanced around. “So where is Cade?”
“Over by the waterfall.”
A buff blonde, wearing only a Speedo, stood next to the cascading water. His wide, overdeveloped shoulders would look silly in a suit or tuxedo, but that didn’t seem to bother the bevy of beauties hanging on his every word. Cynthia gulped.
Immediately, she felt guilty. She knew better than to judge a man by his appearance. That’s all anyone had ever done with her. Still… “The blonde?”
“I’m not sure who that is.” Henry led her to the other side of the waterfall. A man with wet, dark hair slicked back from his high forehead stood alone. A pineapple cup hid his face. “That’s Cade Armstrong Waters.”
He was tall. Over six feet. He wore a white T-shirt and green-and-blue plaid swim trunks. He didn’t have the other man’s muscles, but Cade looked solid and strong.
He lowered the pineapple, and Cynthia breathed a sigh of relief. Cade was good-looking in a geekish sort of way. His small wire-rimmed glasses made him look smart, like a professor. Or a husband. And a father.
He was not a man she would lose herself in. Thank goodness. Cynthia wanted to be a better parent than either of hers had been. Her children would always know they were loved.
On second glance she realized he really wasn’t a geek at all. His hair was too long to call him clean-cut and the angles of his face made him look rugged, more than a little dangerous. She swallowed. Hard.
“Like what you see?” Henry asked.
All she could do was nod. That scared her a little. Cynthia remembered Cade came with all those other Armstrongs, and she didn’t feel as bad.
Henry laughed. “Better than Travis?”
“Maybe.” She forced the word from her dry mouth and adjusted the hibiscus in her hair. “Let’s go. I’m ready for Cade to fall in love with me.”
Cade Waters stirred his drink with the multi colored paper umbrella. He was getting another headache and wanted to call it a night. Nothing about this party interested him. Not the gourmet food, the open bar or the women. Okay, he didn’t mind the sarongs or the bikinis, but these women usually wore a lot more clothing and coordinating accessories. Not to mention a pound or two of makeup so they could look “natural.”
This wasn’t his scene. It had been once, a long time ago, but never again. He was a different person now. Money—Armstrong money—had not only destroyed his parents’ marriage, but had also ruined Cade’s chance for happiness.
Yet here he was.
Cade glanced at the pool on the other side of the waterfall. He’d already swum more laps than he could count which explained why he was so thirsty and hungry, but he preferred being in the water to air-kissing and socializing with people he didn’t like, much less respect.
For years, he’d declined Henry’s party invitations, much to the dismay of his cousins who loved partying with the generous billionaire. Cade had struggled to move beyond being just another one of the Armstrong cousins. People expected Armstrongs to succeed, and Cade would. He would succeed on his own terms without the help of the Armstrong name or money.
Unfortunately this year he wasn’t in a position to say no to Henry Davenport. Call it blackmail, call it desperation. Henry had
